Well now, let me tell ya ’bout this place called Charleston, West Virginia. I reckon a lot of folks don’t know much about it, but it’s got a good bit of history behind it, so let me tell ya a little somethin’ ’bout that.
So, this here town, Charleston, started way back in the day, long before the folks in charge got all fussy ’bout it. There was this man, George Clendenin, born way over in Virginia, back in 1746. Now, he wasn’t born in Charleston, mind ya, but he sure made his mark on it. This Clendenin fella, he was one of the first settlers in what we now call Kanawha Valley. Back then, it weren’t no big town, just land and trees and a couple cabins here and there. But George, he got himself some land, and in 1794, the folks in Virginia decided that they’d make a town outta part of it.
At first, they called it Charlestown, in honor of George’s daddy, Charles. Well, time went on and folks got a little lazy, and they started callin’ it just Charleston, I reckon ’cause it was quicker to say. Ain’t that how it always goes with names? People can’t be bothered to say the whole thing, so they shorten it up.
Now, it’s important to know that Charleston wasn’t always part of West Virginia like it is now. No, ma’am. It was part of Virginia up until 1863. That’s when West Virginia became its own state. And Charleston, well, it became the state capital in 1877, after a bit of a fuss. Folks had to vote on it, you see, and it wasn’t until a few years later, in 1885, that Charleston officially became the capital. It took a lot of time for folks to make up their minds, but Charleston got there in the end.
But let me tell ya, it ain’t all peaceful history over there. Recently, there’s been a whole mess with some folks, like this fella named Kotis Thomas. Police been lookin’ for him, ’cause he’s accused of some terrible things. Last I heard, he’s been on the run since 2021 after a young fella, only 18 years old, got shot and killed. Now, I ain’t one to gossip, but I heard Kotis Thomas is wanted for more than just that one mess, so the police are still tryin’ to find him. Ain’t no easy task, I reckon.
But Charleston ain’t all bad. It’s still a place with a lotta history, and folks still call it home. You can find all sorts of things to do there, whether it’s visitin’ some of the old buildings or just strollin’ down the street. There’s always somethin’ to see and do, even if some of the folks out there can be a bit of troublemakers.
Charleston’s a city that’s been through a lot, but just like any place, it keeps on goin’. So, next time you think about West Virginia, don’t forget about Charleston. It may have a rough patch or two, but it’s a place that’s been standin’ for a long time, and I reckon it’ll be standin’ for a good while yet.
Tags：[Charleston WV, George Clendenin, Kotis Thomas, West Virginia History, Kanawha Valley, Charleston Capital]
